“Proof he didn’t do it.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“He also misdirected us with Nancy Serat. He strangled Nancy. Then he planted one of Kathy’s hairs at the scene.”

“But where did he get the hair?”

“Kathy slept in his room all the time, right? She would have kept other stuff there besides her clothes. Stuff like a hairbrush.”

“Son of a bitch.”

“It was almost perfect. Blame someone who was dead. And if Kathy wasn’t dead—if she had indeed survived—he’d make her look like a lunatic. Who’d believe the ravings of a girl who’d killed her old roommate? But Christian didn’t count on Jessica showing up at Nancy’s. He panicked. He hit her over the head and ran. Problem was, he’d left his fingerprints behind. But Christian was quick. He even used that to his advantage. When you dragged him in the next morning, he immediately admitted to being at Nancy’s house. And then he came up with that wonderful story about sisters reuniting.”

“Another perfect misdirection,” Jake said.

“Except he forgot about the glass.”

“What glass?”

“His fingerprints were found in several spots in the house, including a drinking glass. Yet Christian told us Nancy barely let him in the door, that she practically pushed him away mumbling about the reuniting sisters. Under those circumstances, isn’t it odd she’d offer him a drink?”

Myron looked at Christian. He lowered his eyes.

“I—I didn’t mean to hurt any of them, Mr. Bolitar,” he said.

“You were manipulative and calculating,” Myron said. “You covered all the bases, even when you hired me. I was small-time. I could be controlled. You knew about my background, that I was an experienced investigator. You knew if any trouble arose, I’d keep things quiet. That I’d keep you informed. That I’d try to protect you. You played me for a sucker.”

Everyone remained silent until Jake said, “All right. Get him out of here.”

The uniformed officers led Christian away.

Myron looked back at Jessica. She still hadn’t said a word. Tears slid down her cheeks. None of this morning’s tears had been for her father. Maybe some of these were.

Win shook his head. “ ‘Squirrel lunch.’ I can’t believe I said ‘squirrel lunch.’ ”

Jessica stopped crying. She even smiled a little. Myron put his arm around her and pulled her in close. Together they made their way back to the car.

Chapter 49

Three days later Myron drove Jessica to the airport.

“Just drop me off at the terminal,” she said.

“I’ll wait with you at the gate.”

“You should head back.”

“I have time.”

“The traffic will be murder.”

“I don’t care.”

“Myron?”

“What?”

“Just drop me off. Please. You know I hate scenes.”

“I won’t make a scene.”

“You always make a scene.”

Silence.

“What’s going to happen to Gary Grady?” she asked.

“I’ve sent all the information to the school board and the local press. I don’t know if he’ll spend any time in jail, but he’s finished.

“What about Dean Gordon?”

“He resigned this morning. He’s going to enter the private sector.”

“And the rapists?”

“Cary Roland is the DA. This case means big headlines. He’ll do his best. Ricky Lane is going to turn state’s evidence.”

“You dumped Ricky as a client?”

Myron nodded.

“And you lost Christian.”

Another nod.

“All in all,” she said, “this case hasn’t had a real positive economic effect on you.”

“I’m more worried about the personal effect.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning you’re back in my life.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“It is. Except you’re leaving.”

“Just for a month or two. It’s a book tour.”

He pulled up to the front of the terminal.

“I’ll be back,” she said.

He nodded.

Jessica kissed him. He held on. She finally pushed him back. He released her grudgingly.

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you too.” She stepped out of the car. “And I’ll be back.”

He watched her walk toward the entrance. He watched her pass through the sliding glass doors, watched her walk to the ticket gate, watched her disappear down an escalator. When she was out of sight, he still watched until a security guard knocked on his window.

“Unloading zone, bub. Move it!”

Myron looked back one more time. Then he drove back to the office.